Thermostatically controlled vaporizing fuel burner



Oct. 2, 1951 Filed April 5, 1949 H. s. WOODRUFF THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 b'f/VRY 5, I/OOORUFF ORNEYS Oct. 2, 1951 H. s. WOODRUFF 2,569,377

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER Filed April 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY I 2 TTORNEYS Get. 2, 1951 H. S. WOODRUFF THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER Filed April 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR flE/VAY 5. WOODAUFF ORNEYS Oct. 2, 1951 H. s. WOODRUFF THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER Filed April 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvsuron flaw? Y 5. W000/fU/F BY 6 gnonm-zvs Oct. 2, 1951 H. s. WOODRUFF 2,569,377

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER Filed April 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 2 TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 2, 1951 THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VAPORIZING FUEL BURNER Henry S. Woodruif, Cazenovia. N. Y., assignor t The Variflame Corporation, White Plains, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 5, 1949, Serial No. 85,631

9 Claims. (Cl. 236-73) 1 This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 761,317, filed July 16, 1947, now abandoned.

The invention relates to pot type, vaporizing oil burners in which a continuous flame is maintained, the fuel supply being increased or decreased to enlarge or diminish the flame in accordance with the needs of the space to be heated, as registered by a room thermostat.

The primary object of the invention is a burner of this type in which, within a convenient, self-contained unit, appropriate control mechanism is provided for accurately modulating the fuel supply and, coincidently, the supply of air appropriate for the clean combustion of the particular amount of fuel being delivered at any time. As will appear, the unit includes a matering pump for the fuel, a fan, a single motor for operating both of them and the entire modulating mechanism, all organized forease of assemblyand' safe, reliable operation.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially sec- I tioned and in part diagrammatic, of a furnace installation incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is'an enlarged scale, horizontal section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown more or less diagrammatically a hot air furnace generally designated I, including an air heating chamber 2, having the usual bottom inlet 3 and top outlet 4. Within the heating chamber is the combustion chamber 5, beneath which is mounted the burner pot 6, having a perforated wall for the admission of combustion air and the usual dished bottom, which latter serves to cause the surface area of the oil pool to contract as the oil supply is reduced, and to cause it to expand as the oil supply is increased. The oil supply line to the burner pot is indicated at 1. The burner pot is mounted within as enclosure 8 which is closed at the front of the furnace by a plate 3 on which is mounted the complete mechanism unit, generally designated I0. As below described in greater detail, this unit includes a pump H which serves to meter oil to supply line 1 from feed line l2, and a fan which discharges into enclosure 8 to supply the combustion air, both the pump and the fan being driven by a single motor. As shown in Fig. 1, a baflle I3 is l 2 located to intercept the fan-supplied air and divert it around the burner pot, so that it will enter the pot through the various apertures spaced around it rather than impinge directly on the near side wall of the pot. p

A house current supply cable I4 is indicated passing into a transformer IS, the primary circuit of which operates themotor fordriving the fan and oil pump as presently described, and the secondary circuit of which transformer is utilized to operate the controls to be described, whereby the oil supply and the 'air supply are coincidentally modulated in accordance with the thermal conditions obtaining in the space to be heated, in which is located a room thermostat IS. The arrangement is such that when the bl-metal element ll of the thermostat engages contact I8, the controls are operative to increase the air and fuel supplies to the burner pot; and when the element l'l engages contact [3, the controls are operative to reduce the air and oil supply to the burner pot. v

In Fig. 1 there is also shown a thermostatic pot switch 20, which, as mentioned below, is in series with the motor and is biased to open and break the motor circuit in the event the flame in the pot should be extinguished. As long as fuel is burning in the pot, switch 20 remains closed.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the mechanism unit It) includes a housing or enclosure 2|, subdivided by partitions or interior walls 22 and 23 into three main compartments 24, 25 and 26. Compartment 24 houses the single motor 21 by which both the fuel metering pump and the fan are driven. Compartment 25 in general houses the controls for the pump. As shown in Fig. 3, a plate 28 forms the lower wall of compartment 26, and in the space 29 belowwall 2B the fuel pump 1 l is located. In compartment 26 are located the coupling mechanism by which the fan discharge is controlled and also certain limit switch controls, later to be described.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the fan 30 is mounted directly on the shaft of motor 21. The air inlet 31 for the fan is located in the bottom wall of chamber 24, directly beneath the motor, so that the incoming air is drawn across the latter to cool it. The incoming air is drawn through the annular opening 32 in fan orifice plate 33, which plate incorporates a by-pass opening 34 arranged to be controlled by a damper 35. The damper is arranged to swing about the axis of a vertical hinge post 36, so as to permit more or less of the air discharged by the fan to enter by-pass opening 34 and be recirculated through opening 32. The amount of air not so by-passed is discharged through outlet 31 into the burner pot enclosure 8.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that. on its end remote from the fan, the motor shaft carries a worm 33 which drives a worm wheel 33 which is secured to a hollow shaft 43. At its left-hand end (as viewed in Fig. 3), shaft 40 carries a cross-head 4|, and in transverse channel 42 in the cross-head is mounted a crank pin block 43 which is radially adjustable in response to rotation of a feed screw 44 which is journaled at its ends in channel cover 45. Block 43 carries crank'pin 46, from which the fuel pump shaft 41 is driven through an appropriate ratchet arrangement. In the form of drive illustrated, a central plate 41a, outside plates 41b and 410 and intervening discs 48, 49, are all riveted or otherwise secured together to rotate as .a unit with shaft 41; and rings 56, are mounted to rotate about the shaft axis in the peripheral channels between plates 41a, 41b and 410. Ears projecting from rings 50, 5| carry studs 52, 53 respectively, which studs are coupled by links 54, 55 with crank pin 46; and the discs 48, 49 are formed with recesses to accommodate friction drive rollers 56 which are spring-biased outwardly to couple the discs totheir respective rings in one direction of rotation of the discs and to "ratchet in the opposite direction. As will be understood, the ring-disc drives thus function alternately, so that, as the crank pin is rotated by hollow shaft 46, substantially continuous rotation is imparted to pump drive shaft 41. However, as will be apparent, the throw of crank pin 46, and hence the rotation of shaft 41, will vary, depending upon the position of block 43 on feed screw 44, maximum rotation being imparted to shaft 41 when block 43 is at the outward limit of radial movement, and minimum rotation of shaft 41 being imparted when block 43 is at the inner limit of its radial movement.

Between spaced collars 66 on the end of rod 63 is located a, roller 61 carried on the end of arm 63 which is secured to post 63; and on the other end of post 63 is a crank which, through link 1|, is connected to crank 12 secured to damper post 36. As will be understood, radial movement of crank pin block 43 outwardly to increase the fuel supply rotates damper post 36 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to increase the amount of fan air passing to the burner, and reverse movement of block 43, to decrease the fuel supply, rotates damper post 36 clockwise to decrease the air supply; that is, by increasing the amount of air discharged through by-passopening 34.

Magnetic means are provided for bringing about and controlling the direction of rotation of feed screw 44. As shown, such means include two solenoids 13, 14, which operate an armature pivoted about its center and normally (that is, when neither solenoid is energized) occupying the full line position illustrated. The armature has two depending lugs 16, 11, one. Or the other of which, when the armatur is rocked by the ener- As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the fuel pump I H is located at the end of shaft 41 remote from the ratchet drive, and in this instance, a sliding vane type of pump is contemplated, including'a' automatic shutoff valve, including a needle 6| supported by a resilient diaphragm 62 which yields to open the needle valve under the pressure of the oil passing through outlet 66 from the pump but which, when the pump stops, serves to close the needle valve. Thus, when the pump is at rest, there is no possibility of floodin the pot as the result of oil inadvertently flowing to it.

In accordance with the present invention, the amount of air passed to the burner by the fan is modulated in accordance with the oil supply; and, to that end, a couplingis provided between the radially adjustable crank pin block 43 and damper 35. a I

As shown in Fig. 3, a rod 63 is mounted to slide in hollow shaft 40, being biased outwardly or to the right by spring 64; and rod 63 is coupled to block 43, as by bead chain 65. Thus, as block 43 moves radially inwardly or outwardly in response to rotation of feed screw 44, so rod 63 moves outwardly (to the right) Or inwardly, and this movement is utilized to vary the setting of the damper, as follows:

gizing of one or the other of the solenoids, projects into the path of a star wheel 18 which is secured to the end of feed screw 44. In the neu tral or full line position of the armature 15, as shown in Fig.3, lugs 16, 11 are both clear of the star wheel; and as lon as the armature con' tinues inthis position, crank pin block 43 occupies a fixed position with respect to crosshead 4|, and rotation of shaft 40 results in a constant feed of oil and air to the burner commensurate with the then position of crank pin block 43. However, when solenoid 14, for example, is energized, armature 16 is rocked into its dotted line position, and lug 16 is projected into the path of the star wheel. In the result, the star wheel and feed screw 44 are rotated one step for each complete turn of shaft 40, and thus a gradual adjustment of the radial position of block 43 is effected, thereby bringing about a gradual change in the fuel and air supply through the drive and connections above described. In this instance, solenoid 14 is energized in response to the engagement of thermostat element l1 with contact I9, which represents a call for less heat. Accordingly, in the sequence just described, the star wheel and feed screw are rotated in a direction to move crank pin block 43 radially inwardly andthereby reduce the fuel and air supply. As will be understood, solenoid 13 is energized in response to the engagement of thermostat element l1 with contact l8, which represents a call for more heat; and when that occurs, armature 15 is rocked to bring lug 11 into position to be engaged by the star wheel. Thereupon the star wheel and feed screw 44 are rotated in the opposite direction, and crank pin block 43 is closed to move radially outward to increase the fuel and air supply.

As will be understood, the burner motor runs continuously; and, as long as the room thermostat is calling ior heat, the magnetic control will continue to hold armature 15 biased to a position tending to continue the slow, outward movement of block 43 to increase the fuel and air supply..

Similarly, the slow inward movement of block 43 to decrease the fuel and air supply will tend to continue as long as the room thermostat is calling for less heat. Since the thermostat may be calling for more heat, or less heat, even when the block 43 has reached the permissible limits of its radial movement, means are provided for arresting movement of the block at predeteraccept"? mined limit positions, representing predetermined maximum and minimum rates of oil suprod 53. As shown in Fig. 3, a second roller 19 is mounted on the underside of arm ,68, directly H beneath roller 61, which second roller is adapted to effect the opening of one or-the other of the micro-switchesafter arm 68 has swung to its predetermined limit position in either direction.

Theswitches are of well-known construction and hence are illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 2. As there shown, the contacts of the right-hand switch are marked 80 and the switch actuator 8|. As is customary with switches of this type, the. contacts are normally closed. They snap open when pressure isapplied to actuator 80 and re-close when the pressure is released. The contacts of the left-hand switch (shown dotted) are marked 82 and their actuator 83. Thus, as arm 68 reaches the desired limit position, to the right or to the left (in response to the movement of rod 63) roller 19,. which is directly beneath roller 61, as viewed in Fig. 2, will effect the opening of one or the other of the micro-switches.

A shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 7, the micro-switches are in series. respectively, with the solenoid coils. When, as the result of continued engagement of thermostat element IT with either contact IE or contact IS, the inward or outward limit position of rod 63 is reached, microswitch contacts 82 or 80 will be snapped open so as to de-energize the then active solenoid, 13 or 14 Thereupon, armature 15 returns to its normal or inactive position clear of star wheel I8. Thereafter, the burner continues to operate at its maximum or minimum fuel and. air supply setting. Eventually, thermostat element ll returns to its mid-position. However, the microswitch which was opened to de-energize one ofthe solenoid coils, will remain open until rod 63 backs away (as the result of an opposite call from the room thermostat) from that limit position which brought about such opening of the micro-switch.

Means are also provided for adjusting the positions of the micro-switches relatively to their actuators, so that their timing can be changed as conditions may require. For this purpose, the switches are carried on arms 84, 85 which are supported by brackets 85, 81 pivoted, respectively, at 88, 89. By moving arms 84, 85 about their pivots, the switches (and in particular their actuators) are movable toward or from roller 19 so as to advance or retard the switch-opening engagement of roller 19 with either of the actuators.

At their free ends, arms 84, 85 carry angle plates 90, 9| which, as shown in Fig 3, are vertically slotted as at 92, 93, respectively. These slotsare engaged by pin 84, 95 which project, eccentrically, from the rear of rotatable discs 96, 81 which are adjustable by means of screws 98, 99 projecting through the unit housing wall for convenient access. As shown in Fig. 1, these adjustment screws may be provided with calibrated escutcheon plates I00, lfll. The notations High and Pilot above the adjustment screws will be understood to indicate that the right-hand screw 98 serves for the adjustment of the lowest permissible fuel supply and left-hand screw 99 for the highest permissible supply.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a knurled extension I02 of pump drive shaft 41 projects through the unithousing for access from the outside. By this means shaft 41 can .be turned manually whenever desired, as to effect rapid. priming of the pumpand. immediate fuel delivery for starting purposes. In connection with starting, it will also be noted that the wiring diagram includes a switch I03 which is in parallel with pot thermostat 20. As will be understood, switch-.lfll is used for starting the motor after the burner hasbeen idle, at which time not thermostat" is open.

In the light of the foregoing descriptionof a preferred, illustrative embodiment of theinvention, the following is claimed:

1. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing. to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a hollow shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted forrotation by said hollow shaft; a drive connection from thecrank pin member to the metering I pump; a flexible coupling extending from the crank pin member, through the hollow shaft. and having an extension connection with the damper; a thermostatically controlled circuit; magnetic means operated by said circuit for effecting-radial adjustment of said crank pin member; a pair of limit switches in said circuit; switch openingv means for each of said switches; means associated with said extension connection for operating said switch opening means; and means for ad- ,justing the positions of the limit switches in relation to said switch opening means.

2. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a hollow shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation by said hollow shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a flexible coupling extending from from the crank pin member, through the hollow shaft, and having an extension connection with the damper; a thermostatically controlled circuit; a pair of solenoid coils alternately energized by said circuit; armatures for said solenoid coils and connections therefrom to said crank pin member for effecting radial adjustment of said member inwardly in response to energizetion of one of said coils and outwardly in response to energization of the other of said coils: a pair of limit switches in said circuit; switch opening means for each of said switches; and means associated with said extension connection for operating said switch opening means.

3. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operableto var the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a hollow shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation by said hollow shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a flexible coupling extending from the crank pin member, through the hollow shaft, and havingan extension connection with the damper; a. thermostatically controlled circuit; a

pair of solenoid coils alternately energized by said circuit; armatures for said solenoid coils and connections therefrom to said crank pin member for effecting radial adjustment of said member inwardly in response to energization of one of said coils and outwardly in response to energizetion of the other of said coils.

"4. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a shut-off valve in said line between the metering pump and the burner; resilient means for closing the shut-off valve when the to the metering pump; a coupling extending from the crank pin member and having an extension connection with the damper; a thermostatically controlled circuit; magnetic means operated by said circuit for effecting radial adjustment of said crank pin member; a pair of limit switches in said circuit; switch opening means for each sure of the oil fed by the pump to open the valve when the pump is operating; a shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation by said shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a coupling extending from the crank pin member and having an extension connection with the damper; a thermostatically controlled circuit; and magnetic means operated by said circuit for effecting radial adjustment of said crank pin member. 6. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor and a. primary circuit therefor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a shut-off valve in said line between the metering pump and the burner; resilient means for closing the shutoff valve when the metering pump is at rest, said means yielding to the pressure of the oil fed by the pump toopen the valve when the pump is operating; a shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation by said shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a coupling extending from the crank pin member and having an extension connection with the damper;

a thermostatically controlled secondary circuit;

magnetic means operated by said circuit for effecting radial adjustment of said crank pin memher; a combustion responsive switch'in said primary circuit, biased to open in response to combustion failure; and a manual switch in parallel with said combustion responsive switch.

'7. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a hollow shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation by said hollow shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a rod mounted for axial movement within the hollow shaft; a spring urging the rod in a direction away from the crank pin member; a bead chain coupling the rod to the crank pin member; and damperactuating means operativeiy associated with said rod.

8. In a vaporizing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a shut-off valve in said line between the metering pump and the burner; resilient means for closing the shut-off valve when the metering pump is at rest, said means yielding to the pressure of the oil fed by the pump to open the valve when the pump is operating; a shaft driven by said motor; a radially adjustable crank pin member mounted for rotation bysaid shaft; a drive connection from the crank pin member to the metering pump; a damper actuating member movable axially with respect to said shaft; 9. spring urging said damper actuating member in one direction axially of the shaft; and a connection between said damper actuating member and the crank pin member for moving the damper actuating member in the opposite direction.

9. In a vaporiiing oil burner mechanism, the combination of a single motor; a combustion air fan driven by the motor; a damper operable to vary the fan air passing to the burner; an oil supply line to the burner; a metering pump in said line; a shut-ofi valve in said line between the metering pump and the burner; resilient means for closing the shut-oil valve when the metering pump is at rest, said means yielding to the pressure of the oil fed by the pump to open the valve when the pump is operating; variable drive means coupling the motor to the pump, said drive means being adjustable to vary the rate of fuel delivery metered by the pump; means connecting a movable part of the said variable drive means with the damper; and thermostatically controlled means for coincidently adjusting both the said variable drive means and, through said connecting means, the damper.

HENRY S. WOODRU'FF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1909 

